Valmiki Ramayana 2.78.16 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 78, Shloka 16

अष्टसप्ततितमः सर्गः — Śatrughna’s Fury and Bharata’s Restraint

Mantharā Episode

Devanagari script

स च रोषेण ताम्राक्ष श्शत्रुघ्न श्शत्रुतापनः।विचकर्ष तदा कुब्जां क्रोशन्तीं धरणीतले।।।।

Transliteration

sa ca roṣeṇa tāmrākṣaḥ śatrughnaḥ śatrutāpanaḥ | vicakarṣa tadā kubjāṃ krośantīṃ dharaṇītale ||

Translation

แล้วพระศัตรุฆนะ ผู้เผาผลาญศัตรู ดวงตาแดงฉานด้วยโทสะ ก็ลากหญิงค่อมที่กรีดร้องไปกับพื้นดิน

Word by Word

• सः: he (that one)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• रोषेण: with anger, in fury
• रोषेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-प्रयोग (instrumental/causal)

• ताम्राक्ष: O copper/red-eyed one
• ताम्राक्ष: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (ताम्राः अक्षी यस्य सः)

• शत्रुघ्न: O Shatrughna
• शत्रुघ्न: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रुघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शत्रून् हन्ति इति)

• शत्रुतापनः: scorcher of enemies
• शत्रुतापनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रुतापन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शत्रूणां तापकः)

• विचकर्ष: dragged
• विचकर्ष: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्गः वि-

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• कुब्जाम्: the hunchback woman
• कुब्जाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुब्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• क्रोशन्तीम्: screaming, crying out
• क्रोशन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying kubjām)

• धरणीतले: on the ground
• धरणीतले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणीतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धरण्याः तलम्)

Context

With bloodshot eyes Satrughna, the scorcher of enemies, dragged the shrieking hunchback down the ground in fury.

Characters & Entities

• Śatrughna
• Mantharā (kubjā)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The scene dramatizes how anger can overpower dharmic restraint; the implied lesson is that even justified indignation must be governed by self-control and proportionality.

What is the narrative situation?

Śatrughna physically assaults Mantharā by dragging her as she screams, escalating the palace conflict.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śatrughna’s valor and intensity (śatrutāpana), though here it manifests as wrath rather than disciplined protection.